The Canada-California Strategic Innovation Partnership (CCSIP), a catalyst for collaborative Research, Development and Delivery (RD&D) between two innovation-intensive jurisdictions, today announced the selection of 15 bilateral projects emerging from its first Call for Proposals (CFP). These initiatives are supported by over $1 million in new research funding, and combine expertise, research resources and investment from both constituencies. They aim to develop novel models of R&D collaboration that address global challenges such as climate change, infectious diseases such as H1N1 influenza, and the demand for sustainable energy. The new projects build on joint R&D initiatives catalyzed by CCSIP to date, including the launch of the Cancer Stem Cell Consortium (Canada) and its novel collaboration with the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine. These organizations recently announced combined funding of $80 million to support two Canada-California teams over the next four years.

Bringing together a total of 23 Canadian universities, eight campuses of the University of California, and more than 49 companies, government labs and agencies on both sides of the border, the selected initiatives feature the organization of nine collaborative events (such as workshops and symposia) and the development of six Canada-California R&D business plans over the next year. These multidisciplinary projects engage a total of more than 150 scientific and industry leaders, including multinational corporations, small-to-medium-sized companies, hospitals and medical centres. Key areas of R&D focus include infectious diseases, global health, carbon capture and sequestration, biofuels, next-generation digital media and green information and communications technology (ICT).

Drawing on critical investment from the University of California and Canadian universities, and operational support from the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT), International Science and Technology Partnerships Canada (ISTPCanada) and the Ontario Centres of Excellence's (OCE) Centre for Commercialization of Research (CCR), CCSIP initiatives will leverage complementary strengths that are unique to Canada and California, address shared priorities and emphasize delivery to market. With stewardship from the University of California Office of the President (UCOP) and ISTPCanada, the Call garnered 108 Letters of Intent in February 2009, and 45 complete applications in May 2009. It is the first model of global R&D collaboration of its kind to be employed by the University of California and many Canadian universities, bringing together academia, industry and government.

"Today's partnership announcement will help move ideas from the laboratory to the real world and will contribute to a cleaner environment and improved healthcare," said the Honourable Peter Van Loan, Minister of International Trade. "Our joint projects will lead to advances in many fields, from carbon storage and new biofuels to energy efficient computers and better border crossings."

"This collaborative partnership is great news for both California and Canada. These projects will help speed up progress in many leading areas important to both California and Canada including climate change, renewable energy, infectious diseases and stem cell research," said Governor Schwarzenegger. "CCSIP will bring together some of the best researchers and innovators to find solutions that will both protect our environment and grow our economy."

"The response to this CFP exceeded all expectations and represents a critical step towards the realization of CCSIP`s overall objectives," said Dr. Henri Rothschild, President and CEO of ISTPCanada. "It reinforces the potential to leverage the CCSIP model as a template for defining a comprehensive Science and Technology (S&T) cooperation platform between these jurisdictions, as well as other innovation partners across the United States and internationally."

"These innovative projects, and CCSIP more broadly, provide a strategic platform for R&D leaders to work together on many of the global sustainability challenges facing decision-makers in California, Canada and around the world," said Professor Heather Munroe-Blum, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of McGill University. "We have great confidence that our increasing collaboration in priority areas will yield promising results and deliver economic and social benefits to citizens in both jurisdictions. We at McGill are proud to work together with the University of California and universities across Canada to contribute to these promising initiatives."

"CCSIP offers a valuable framework for international research cooperation, beginning with a strong innovation partner-Canada," said Mr. Mark Yudof, President of the University of California. "By pooling complementary expertise and resources from eight UC campuses, 23 Canadian universities, and dozens of companies and labs, we are increasing our collective R&D capacity. In these challenging times, cooperation is essential to broaden the impact of our research, and accelerate innovation that stimulates economic growth in California and Canada."

In addition to investment from the University of California and 23 Canadian universities, the Ontario Centres of Excellence's (OCE) Centre for Commercialization of Research, ISTPCanada and the Canada-Israel Industrial Research and Development Foundation (CIIRDF) are contributing funds and in-kind support to the 15 CCSIP projects.

"The Ontario Centres of Excellence's Centre for Commercialization of Research (CCR), an initiative supported by the Government of Canada through the Networks of Centres of Excellence, is pleased to contribute to this inaugural Canada-California project portfolio," said Dr. Mario Thomas, OCE's Managing Director, CCR. "These initiatives directly align with CCR's objectives as they aim to develop novel commercialization models that increase the potential of new technologies and services."

Read more about the Canada-California Strategic Innovation Partnership in the Wiki.

Read more about theInternational Science and Technology Partnerships Canada in the Wiki.